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June 9, 2009

What Are You Wearing?

A while back I confessed that I didn't wear Ivy a lot, definitely not as much as I wore Gray and not nearly enough to feel justified in having a blog called Adventures In Babywearing.

But oh how that's changed... that girl likes to be kept close. All the time. It's either me or hubby- and she now gets so excited when she see us pick up a sling to put it on.

I'm always big on not wearing babies only for the convenience- you don't always have to be doing something or have your hands free. Maybe just keeping them close is the only something you should be doing at the time. But, I also now realize that often if I don't have her in the sling, I have no other chance to get things done. Like the dishes, laundry, playing with the boys, grocery shopping, etc. Many times, to accommodate the other children, I need her to nap in the sling and I am thankful that is a viable option.

Ivy is almost 9 months old and about 20 lbs now (maybe more) and my favorite carry is on my front in the Ergo or in the mei tai on my back. But let's be honest, sometimes it's all about whatever matches my outfit at the time (am I right?).

This is a photo of me at a party this weekend with Ivy in the Freehand mei tai.

Just this week I had the opportunity to use a woven wrap for the first time- all out of the generosity of my blog & Twitter friend Robin from Woowoo Mama. She mailed me her most favorite Didymos (for the babywearing techies: violet and white pfau dyed black cherry 6) so that I could try it out.

I am having fun perfecting the different carries with the wrap- and the front wrap cross carry is a new one that I am getting the hang of. I haven't taken a picture of her in it yet but I will try to do that tomorrow. When I send it back to Robin I might get back into wearing my Gypsy Mama wrap again. That is one I liked wearing in the summer with Gray when he was Ivy's age. And if anything else, it's probably my prettiest carrier.

I was thinking of taking another babywearing stash photo again, soon, and encourage others to do the same. I might just photograph only the ones I use right now and have a link up. What do you think? Would you play along?

And out of curiosity- what is your absolute favorite carrier and position, and what age is your baby at the time?

My baby is the same age as Ivy (born 20th September) and at the moment we only use a Babyhawk Mei Tai front carry , we did use a wrap but he seemed to get to heavy for it. I have not yet mastered back carry , need to have someone around to give me a little help with it.Mind you i love front carry, he is a very active little man and its the only time i get to hold him close and spend most of it kissing his head. I also love the carrier so have no desire to change for another one. Just going to put him in it just now while i do the school run , he will take his afternoon nap contently and i will love my snuggles

Love that photo!I am so excited to do this again. Luke was never really a fan of being worn, not past infancy, anyway. I am kind of hoping this one wants to be worn a bit more! His favorite was the kiddiewinkles woven wrap, which is so lightweight and pretty. I just hope I remember how to do all the different carries with it!

I would love to see the stash again! I loved looking up the various slings and carriers last time =) If you do, though, can you please include what you use each for the most? I'm very interested in the balance people strike between theire carriers!

I currently only own a ring sling and a moby wrap. I feel like my little guy is too heavy for the wrap. I like my ring sling, but he is so wiggly that I don't feel like he is secure enough (mind you it is probably mama error!). I am thinking that a Mei Tei is in my future!

I loved my pouch sling when my six month old was smaller. (You showed me how to use it properly at blissdom.) I even had to put a video up of how to use it because my readers wanted to know what you taught me, O Wise One! Now I'm liking my ergo, with the front carry. She's six months old and about 14 or 15 pounds. My friend loves her Moby wrap, but she says it will be too hot this summer. Do you have any suggestions for her?

I would play along with the stash photo link up. I loved the "newborn upright" and "love your baby" holds in my Sleepy Wrap when Boo was tiny (up until about 4 months old). And I absolutely love my BabyHawk in the front (about 6-10 months) or back carry (10+ months). I got a Nest sling not too long ago that I look forward to trying with baby #3, and I'm thinking about getting an Ergo (mainly for daddy to wear).

I'm a major beginner because I haven't even heard of some of these wraps. I got a Moby wrap when my daughter came home but didn't use it very much. My son is now almost 6 months old (and closing in on 20 lbs) and so I use a ring sling (have no idea the official name) alot with him on my hip. He loves it and often falls alseep and it really helps my back. Although for longer periods of time I still prefer the Moby because it gives me better back support. But I think I might have to try something new soon!

My favourite was the ring sling (that I happen to have won from ahem ... YOU). I used that up until just recently with my daughter. I found it easiest though with her from about 5 months and on(right around when she was stable sitting up). That was my stylish piece that I used at parties, mall trips and social outings (which included grocery shopping).

I LOVE my Ergo and still use it on my daughter who is now 2. She loves being on my back and will even share it with her big brother who is 4, when he gets tired on our walking adventures. The Ergo has gone everywhere with us and I find that it was/is the most comfortable for my kids when they fell asleep or if they were going to be in it for a longer period of time (say a walk or outdoor market shopping or something).

I do miss wearing one of my children all of the time though. I truly do. Part of me gets so excited when my daughter pulls out the Ergo and asks to go in it.

My favorite carrier right now, by far, is my Beco Butterfly. My baby is 13 months and I've been using it since he was about 4 months. I've been dealing with morning sickness lately, so haven't been using it much, but I might carry him on my back again in the next few weeks. If it's not way too much to handle.

With my new baby, due in December, I look forward to using the Moby Wrap. When baby's not a newborn anymore I'll go right back to the Beco. :)

I love wearing my daughter, and she loves it too, so it something we do daily!

My favorites that I've come across in my 10 months at babywearing is the Rockin Baby Sling(for their cute styles and designs), The Sleepy Wrap(for the pure comfort and secure and snug fit).

One I have not tried however is a mei tai and I'm dying to try one out. Must buy one soon! And the ergo sounds interesting, but I'm just not sure about it yet regardin all the buckles and such. I guess I just need more convincing.

Oh and I shold mention that I couldn't stand hotslings...they just were not for me!

I use my sling for out and about and when I am cooking. I use my Ergo for walks, naps, and sewing. I would LOVE to try a wrap (I have one that I made, but I don't think it is as sturdy as a real wrap) and a Mei Tai.You know Libby is the same age as Ivy, but she is a wee one for sure. I think she is barely tipping the scales at 18 lbs. But she is a tall girl.Oh and you know I would play along with the babywearing photo parade :)

I'm sooooooo new to babywearing...the Bjorn does okay, but I just now figured out the Hotsling. We'll see how much he takes to it. I'm definitely going to give a woven wrap a go. I'm petrified I'll never be able to figure it out, but I'm certainly going to try!

I wear the baby in a ring sling, always in the front, facing me. I haven't tried any back carries. I might have to look into those. My girlie is 12 months now and I've carried her in the sling since we brought her home from the hospital. She's a petite thing, at only 17 lbs.

But I'm getting sentimental and long to use the Sleepy Wrap again soon because that is my all time favorite carrier. Paige still loves it, but I just haven't dug it out again. She practically lived in it her first 6 months. So comfy and cozy.

I have a bit of a stash happening this time around and so far my favorites include: sleepy babe wrap for newborn on up, mainly use at home, especially when I know he wants to sleep and its so nice to tuck his little head into, nest ring sling and maya lp ring sling for church and quick trips, beco and ergo for longer walks (can't decide between the two), hotsling as backup in the diaper bag, and also have a babyhawk and comfy joey pouch on the way...um, he's only 4 mths old (where's my paper bag to hide in?)

Oh, now that I actually have more than one carrier it would be so fun to take a picture of them all together! My favorite carry is my ring sling side from about 3 months to 8 months, then from 9 on up I am LOVING my Mei Tai for front and back (though I am still getting the hang of the back on my own) LOVING it. So very glad I found out about them through you!

Well, as you (and everyone who knows me) know I love my wrap. And we almost always go with the facing in front carry. We have been using that since she was four months old when we got it but we do a hip carry occasionally too. I am just starting to try to master the back carry. I think I will love it for getting things done when we have the hang of it. I just need to practice. And yes, I will play along with a stash link up. :)

Isaac turns 9 months old tomorrow, and he is on my back in the Ergo every day. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to get anything done around here!! I also really like my maya wrap lightly padded ring sling. I use that when I don't want to mess with buckles, and I don't really need both hands but want to keep him close.

I don't have much of a stash, but it would be good motivation to take some pics, so I would definitely play along! :)

My favorite thus far is my Moby wrap. My newest babe, who is a month old, sleeps SO soundly in it. I don't have to worry about his head wobbling around and I can cover him up completely if I want to protect him from weather (or light, or strangers who think it's appropriate for them to touch him!! or whatever). I get the benefit of cuddling up with him while simultaneously doing laundry, playing with my almost 2yo, etc. and I just love how comfy it is. My ring sling just doesn't compare at this point!

I am borrowing a mei tei from my sis-in-law right now. I LOVED my ring sling when my 8 month old was smaller. I do have a question. My little guy loves to be held, but I think he would be happier on my hip. He wants to see and tough everything. I know I can do that with the ring sling, but he is so heavy now! Do you have any suggestions?

My son is 18 months old, and I wear him the MOST in a back carry in my Patapum (working in the camp kitchen). I also do a hip or tummy-to-tummy carry in my ring sling every so often, but for some reason, since I've been expecting (I'm only 12 weeks along), the ring sling just hasn't been comfortable or appealing...so I made my own moby-ish stretchy wrap from jersey knit fabric & we've been doing the front wrap cross carry on walks & the hip hold during vacuuming, etc. around the house, and it's actually a lot more comfortable for me! :) I'm looking forward to using the wrap with the new baby in December, too! :)

I have a baby Ktan, hotsling, and Bjorn (mainly for husband) My daughter is 4 months old and we LOVE the Ktan. It is really easy to use on the go. I can not stand carrying the heavy carseat so I just put her right in the ktan and go. :) I first got the hotsling when she was a newborn. Not really a huge fan of that. I would like to get a ring sling and a mei tai...husband thinks I have enough :(

I live and work on a floating hospital ship off the coast of West Africa. I spent last year in Liberia, where the mamas taught me to "back a baby." It's the universal carry over there, in which a baby as young as a week or two old is strapped to the mama's back with a long piece of well-worn cloth called a lappa. As a pediatric nurse, I OFTEN have babies under my care who are too fussy to be left in their beds while I tend to others, so I learned pretty quickly to back them on my own, even mastering the more "advanced" technique of just tucking the ends of the cloth rather than knotting them. By the end of the year, they babies' mamas started calling me the Liberian White Woman, since I almost always had a baby on my back. http://alirae.net/blog/archives/157-liberian-white-woman.html I'm in Benin now, and the Beninois are flabbergasted when they see me do it. I'm planning on carrying my own kiddos just like this. (But not until they can hold their heads up on their own. None of that crazy 2-week old stuff for me!)

Oh, what a loaded question for a my favorite carrier (and probably the reason I have so many) because it all depends on the age and size.

Currently, I am absolutely in love with my Ergo front, back, hip, whatever carry. Violet is 6mths and nearly 18lbs. I can't believe it took me three kids to finally spend the money on it. It is the best investment I ever made and could have probably saved myself so much money on other carriers had I bought it sooner. But let's be honest here, I wouldn't have a carrier for every outfit then now would I... :D

The close second in carriers would be my Babyhawk in a front carry, too. For newborns, you can't beat a ring or pouch to keep baby so snuggled in close and secure.

After three kids, I just got my first mei tai a couple of months ago, and it is by far my favorite! I love how comfortable the front carry is with it. I tried the back carry for the first time on a walk last night, but it wasn't as comfortable. I'm sure I'll get used to it, though, with some more practice. My son is currently 6 months old and weighs 20.5 pounds.

my baby is 7 months and I love the New Native sling. Being she's on my side (she puts too much stress on my back if I carry her on my front) I am able to do more and it's great when we go grocery shopping. She can go in that and my 3 year old can go in the cart. And then we only need one cart :)

I have a 4mo. Until recently the bjorn was my favorite, but as she gets heavier it hurts my back more and more. I have a baby hawk mei tai that is super cute and comfy for me, but she isn't quite comfortable in it yet. I also have a moby and a hotsling, but I'm not super keen on either. I want a ring sling, but, um, my carrier collection is getting a little out of hand.

Since I only have a few slings and now that I'm too pregnant to carry, it seems like so long ago that I got to baby wear.

I want to try/buy a Mei Tei for Peanut and for Hubbie to use with Peanut. I also want to figure out how a Mei Tei, a Bella Carrier and a Ergo are different... I want one of the three!

By far, my favorite has been the Sleepy Wrap. I loved the ability to wear Peanut for a long time and no adjusting was required. I LOVED LOVED LOVED my won Nonny and Boo ring sling compared to my other and really want to buy the water sling for the pool/ocean for baby no 3!

With Justin I only had a Snugli front carrier. It was fine, but hurt my back. I did love the hands free stuff though.

With Evan, I had the front carrier, back-pack for hiking and a bulky sling that I used for the first six months. Liked them all (loved the backpack) but none were perfect...

With Corinne I used pretty much only the Maya sling. On my hip, front, back, you name it. She still remembers when she used to be my "koala bear". Sometimes she asks if we can put it on again and we do, just for fun, as she really is LONG and it's not comfortable on my short frame anymore.

I MISS that. Ivy looks so comfy and I miss that closeness and feeling of them still being a physical part of me...

She is getting so big! The photo of you two is great! I have to be honest that I used Baby Björn more than a sling, but only because I didn't know many who used slings and any good ones when my kids were smaller.

I got a ring sling only so far which i love and Greg is happy in. he loves to be held on the hip to see better...he's 4 and a half months...wish to try the ergo and mei tai actually as he's getting heavy and yje weight on one shoulder getting too much as well

Right now, Levi is 7 months (today!) and I use the Ergo the most. Front and back. Front mostly, back when I need to cook. I like the Ergo for grocery shopping so I can lift the other two boys in and out of the cart.

I used the Nest ring sling when he was newborn, and then the Hotsling pouch a lot too.

I would try to play along with a babywearing stash post, VBS is this week and it's keeping me busy and tired!

My fave, hands down, Storchenwiege, red, from about 3 months until....9 months? Until he got too heavy for the front carry--I can't do the back carry b/c of severe scoliosis. I love, love, LOVE the storch. I even walked a 5k (as a participant!) w/ him in the storch when he was about 5 months old.